The British Esports Federation has co-created EGAMES DUBAI27, a global scholastic competitive gaming initiative launched in partnership with education investment firm Varkey Group.
Announced on 3 November 2026, the open-entry tournament invites state-funded, government-run, and independent schools worldwide to compete in national qualifying events, culminating in a live international final in April 2027 at the GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI) in Dubai.
The initiative establishes a structured international pipeline for scholastic esports, backed by an initial cohort of 14 national governing bodies. Participating organisations include the British Esports Federation, Saudi Esports Federation, Emirates Esports Federation, Brazilian Games and Esports Confederation, and the Association of Electronic Sports and Video Games of Argentina, alongside member bodies from Australia, Ghana, Nigeria, Ireland, Jordan, New Zealand, Poland, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.
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Domestic federations will oversee national qualifying tournaments, with winning school teams advancing to represent their institutions on the global stage. Education provider GEMS Education has joined as the primary partner, hosting both the tournament finals and a parallel Education Summit covering digital skills, AI integration, coaching, and safeguarding.
Competing students will contest titles in EA FC 27, Rocket League, and a dedicated Minecraft building tournament during the 2026/27 academic year. Alongside competitive accolades, participating schools can earn facilities hardware, educational scholarships, and institutional access to the Esports Nations Cup in 2027. The framework also aligns with broader youth development objectives outlined by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, focusing on digital skills, teamwork, and career pathways in digital media.
The selection of Dubai as the host city directly integrates with the UAE’s municipal economic strategies, notably the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, the Dubai Gaming Committee under the Dubai Media Council, and the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033.
Highlighting the strategic rationale behind the launch, British Esports President and GEMS Esports Ambassador Chester King noted that EGAMES scales the foundation built by domestic initiatives like the UK’s Student Champs onto an international level. Varkey Group Chairman Sunny Varkey added that the platform provides a global stage to nurture young digital talent and showcase the practical educational benefits of competitive gaming.
